Increased risk of spot disease in poultry in autumn and winter

Spot disease is a poultry disease caused by the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. It is a serious disease that can cause high mortality in laying hens, breeding stock and turkeys. An assessment of the monitoring results of the past decades shows that outbreaks of spot disease in poultry mainly occur during the autumn months and the beginning of winter.

In the acute form, a spot disease infection in poultry can lead to blood poisoning within 2 to 5 days. Infected animals then die quickly, mortality can be up to 25%. Internally, the severely swollen liver and spleen are particularly noticeable. There will be a serious drop in production in laying hens. In chronic cases, coordination problems and skin damage with a slightly increased loss are often mentioned. Chronic cases have been described in turkeys.

In the Netherlands, a veterinary practice and Royal GD recently demonstrated spot disease in laying hens with inflamed eyelids. Transmission from the environment can take place via insects and small rodents. Spreading contaminated manure for grassland fertilization is also mentioned as a possible source. An infected company can remain infected by infected red mites, and infected rats and mice.

Spot disease can be transmitted to other animal species, but also to humans. During internal inspection of dead animals, someone can infect themselves by pricking themselves on sharp bone parts. Initially, this leads to skin rashes, inflammation of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. This can lead to blood poisoning within a few days. Quick contact with the doctor is therefore also desirable.

An assessment of the monitoring results of the past decades shows that outbreaks of spot disease in poultry mainly occur during the autumn months and the beginning of winter; both in barns with outdoor runs and in free-range barns. Because multiple pests are mentioned when the bacterium was introduced, it seems likely that rats and mice, which can be carriers of the spot disease bacterium, bring the bacterium with them.

Poultry farmers are advised to intensify pest control during the autumn. Companies that have had a previous infestation are advised to keep a close eye on both pest control and red mite control and to vaccinate flocks for at least 3 consecutive years. Due to the long survival of the bacterium in the soil, this period may still be too short for farms with outdoor expansion.

bron: Royal GD, 15/10/2021

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